Not Just a Sign or a Sacrament

Music keeps my head above water on some days. It is playing nearly all the time at our house, and I have been known to replay the same song 100+ times because of the way that one line, phrase, or stanza speaks to me in a given season. Because of this, these songs act like their own little milestones in my life, bringing me back to where I emotionally and spiritually was during my obsessive repeated listening of that particular tune. I think of it as meditation, of sorts. This is the latest one I have been smitten by, and I’ll just confess upfront that many/most of my repeated listens from this past year are by Sara Groves. The girl has a way with honest words. The blood of Jesus is not just a sign or sacrament to be observed, but is a love that is real in our lives, if we invite Him in. He stands at the door and knocks. I feel this real love tangibly in my life, and this song hits a tender spot.

Awakening – Sara Groves (<<Youtube link to listen…audio isn’t the best, I recommend looking it up on Spotify if you want better quality)

Dress down your pretty faith
Give me something real
Leave out the thee and thou
And speak to me now

Speak to my pain and confusion
Speak through my fears and my pride
Speak to the part of me that knows
I’m something deep down inside

I know that I am not perfect
But compare me to most
In a world of hurt and a world of anger
I think, I’m holding my own

And I know that you said, there is more to life
And I know, I am not satisfied
But there are mornings I wake up
And I’m just thankful to be alive

I’ve known now, for quite a while
That I am not whole
I’ve remembered the body and the mind
But dissected my soul

Now something inside is awakening
Like a dream, I once had and forgot
And it’s something I’m scared of
And something I don’t want to stop

I woke up this morningAnd realized that Jesus is not a portraitWhere stained glass windows or hymnsOr the tradition that surrounds us

And I thought it would be hard to believe inBut it’s not hard at allTo believe I’ve sinnedAnd fallen short of the Glory of God

And He’s not asking me to change in my joy for martyrdomHe’s asking to take my placeTo stand in the gap that I have formedWith His real and His sweet and His real amazing grace

And it’s not just a sign or a sacramentIt’s not just a metaphor for loveThe blood is real, His blood is real and it’s not just a symbol of your faithSo leave out the thee and thou and speak now